Ever since Chris Ballard took over as general manager for the Indianapolis Colts in 2017, there has been a major emphasis on drafting great to elite athletes across the roster.
With the 2020 NFL draft now concluded, we can gauge how the class as a whole looks when it comes to athleticism. According to Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb), the creator of Relative Athletic Score (RAS), the Colts came out with another strong class in terms of athleticism.
Their RAS average sits at 7.99, just a tick below the “elite” range, which is any score over 8.00. They had five such players achieve a RAS over 8.00.
The Day 2 picks are extremely athletic. For Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor, their size plays well into the equation. Because they are so big, their athleticism is even more intriguing because of the way they can move despite their size.
Had Blackmon tested at the combine—he tore his ACL in December—he likely would have been near the top of the class.
The interesting prospect is offensive lineman Danny Pinter. The Colts love his athleticism and he tested as well as anyone in the class. He might be a little light on weight, but he moves extremely well and if there’s one thing a Chris Ballard offensive lineman has to do, its move.
Another intriguing player the Colts picked is wide receiver Dezmon Patmon. He scored well in the RAS and his combination of size, speed and athleticism make him a player to watch for that final spot in the wide receiver room.
As expected, the Colts’ draft class is a crop of athletic and explosive playmakers. Especially when it comes to the Day 3 picks, Ballard will continue this trend of adding athletes because it helps them hit their ceilings with the right coaching.
